Mozambique: State to introduce digital timber export system to combat smuggling

Mozambique will introduce a digital timber export control system to resolve data disparities and help combat resource smuggling, officials said on Monday. “We started with digitisation (…) for forest licencing, and we will now move into digitisation of the [timber] export process. This will ensure high reliability because information provided recently (…) was inconsistent,” said Imede Falume, the director of forestry and wildlife in Maputo.

Speaking before the first meeting of the National Directorate of Forestry and Wildlife, he noted that digital tools should resolve timber smuggling, especially in central and northern Mozambique. “Once we implement the digital export control system, we believe it will significantly resolve this,” he added, without providing a launch date. On 17 March, the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PGR) said it opened a criminal case into the suspected illegal export of about 400 containers of logs from Pemba port, in Cabo Delgado province.

The forestry sector supports millions of rural Mozambicans through timber, charcoal, jobs and other activities, according to the non-governmental organisation. FILE – For illustration purposes only. [File photo: Hora da Verdade/Facebook]